Dr. Benjamin Stappers

Biography

Benjamin Stappers is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, affiliated with the Jodrell Bank Center for Astrophysics. His primary research interests include radio pulsars, neutron stars, and rapid radio transients. He is involved in international projects like the European Pulsar Timing Array (EPTA) and the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA), which aim to leverage precision timing of radio pulsars to detect gravitational waves, particularly in the nano-Hz frequency regime. These gravitational waves are believed to originate from processes in the early universe, such as inflation, cosmic strings, and binary supermassive black holes. As a co-principal investigator of transients projects like LOFAR, he oversees initiatives that utilize a large radio telescope to explore the transient universe. Stappers holds a PhD in Astronomy from the Australian National University and completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Amsterdam. His work has significantly contributed to the understanding of pulsars and the interstellar medium, helping to probe physics and anomalies within these areas. Notably, Stappers is focused on the development of hardware and software for pulsar studies and has engaged in building and commissioning pulsar machines at various leading observatories. His ongoing efforts are pivotal in advancing the capabilities of the Square Kilometre Array, the world's largest radio telescope, enhancing its potential for pulsar studies.

Research Interests

Experience